He told the markets -- Cineworld is listed on the stock exchange here -- he is leaving to "enjoy the fruits of his success in building the U.K.'s top cinema chain."

A former managing director of Warner Bros. Europe, Weiner set up Cineworld in 1995 and it was subsequently purchased by private equity group Blackstone in 2004, and floated on the stock exchange in 2007.

Wiener said: "In 1995 my wife Jenny and I wrote a business plan to start a cinema company. We expected over a five-year period to open five-seven multiplex cinemas and sell it on to one of the big operators."

He noted that in 2013, Cineworld "is the number one cinema chain in the U.K. and has been for more than three years. This was achieved by a lot of hard work by an executive team that is the best I have ever worked with in my 44 years in the industry. I am sure with them on board Cineworld will continue to go from strength to strength."

Cineworld currently operates 80 sites, of which 77 are multiplex cinemas with five screens or more. It posted 46 million admissions in 2012 and revenues of $579 million (£359 million).

In December 2012, Cineworld acquired the U.K.’s leading art house exhibition chain Picturehouse for $76 million. It operates 21 sites with 60 screens.